Connection means for construction elements, and associated set of building blocks

Abstract

A connecting means for construction elements, e.g. (toy) building blocks, comprises a strip-shaped member having a thickened portion and a component of a detachable connecting mechanism. The strip-shaped member is insertable into a groove in the side faces of the construction elements. To that component of the detachable connection, e.g. to a nut, further construction elements can be attached in a simple but stable manner. The detachable mechanism is preferably the one that is provided in the construction element for connections without using the connecting means. The connecting means thus allows an extension of the assembly possibilities in a stable manner in other directions than those provided by the construction elements themselves.

1. A connector for assembly of a first construction element at a first surface thereof to a second construction element in a first direction, which is transverse to the fist surface, the connector having a strip-shaped member which is provided, at an effective distance from a rear edge thereof, with a thickened portion at least on an effective part of its total length, wherein a connecting member is joined to the rear edge of the strip-shaped member and includes a component of a connecting mechanism, wherein the strip-shaped member is insertable into a groove of the first construction element defined in the first surface and the second construction element is attachable to the connecting member by the connecting mechanism, wherein the connecting mechanism comprises elements that are essentially complementary to one another and are insertable into one another in the first direction, wherein the elements that are complementary to one another form a push-in connection, wherein the connecting member of the connecting mechanism includes a nut to enable a screw connection to the second construction element, wherein the second construction element is connectable to the connecting member by a screw receivable from a surface of the second construction element in a direction that is aligned with the first direction, indirectly connectable to the first construction element by the strip-shaped member, and wherein the strip-shaped member has a web-shaped section connected to the connecting member at one side thereof and the thickened portion at an opposing side thereof to space the connecting member and the thickened portion from one another, the web-shaped section following the thickened portion on the side of the rear edge in order to provide a lateral guidance during the insertion of the strip-shaped ember into a groove of a construction element, and wherein the screw is receivable in the nut to realize the screw connection. 
     
     
       2. The connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the connecting member has an internal thread for receiving a screw. 
     
     
       3. The connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the thickened portion includes the front edge of the strip-shaped member opposite the rear edge thereof. 
     
     
       4. The connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the thickened portion extends on at least half the length, preferably on the entire length of the strip-shaped member and is interrupted or uninterrupted. 
     
     
       5. The connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the width of the web-shaped section is at least a third of an average diameter of the thickened portion, preferably half the average diameter of the thickened portion. 
     
     
       6. A building block set comprising at least one connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the building block set additionally includes at least one building block that
 has at least one groove that is shaped essentially complementarily to the strip-shaped member such that a strip-shaped member of a connecting means is insertable into the groove in the longitudinal direction, and/or 
 has at least one complementary component of the connecting mechanism such that a building block and the connector are connectable by the connecting mechanism. 
 
     
     
       7. The building block set according to  claim 6 , wherein the groove in the toy building block, starting from the groove opening, has a portion that is configured essentially complementarily to the web-shaped section of the strip-shaped member of the connector, said portion having a depth that is at most equal to the width of the web-shaped section so that a force connection between the strip-shaped member and the building block can be established by a traction effect upon actuating the connecting mechanism. 
     
     
       8. The connector according to  claim 1 , wherein their parts are made of plastics material. 
     
     
       9. A toy building block set comprising at least one connector according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
       10. The building block set according to  claim 6 , wherein it is a toy building block set. 
     
     
       11. The building block set according to  claim 5 , wherein it includes at least one building block that comprises at least one pluggable connecting mechanism having mutually pluggable elements, the connecting member being such an element essentially. 
     
     
       12. The building block set according to  claim 6 , wherein its parts are made of plastics material. 
     
     
       13. A toy building block set comprising at least one connector according to  claim 8 . 
     
     
       14. A construction set, comprising:
 a first construction element, a second construction element, and a connector, the connector having a strip-shaped member which is provided, at an effective distance from a rear edge thereof, with a thickened portion at least along a portion of its total length, wherein a connecting member is joined to the rear edge of the strip-shaped member and includes a component of a connecting mechanism, wherein the strip-shaped member is insertable into a groove of the first construction element defined in a first surface of the first construction element and the second construction element is attachable to the connecting member by the connecting mechanism, wherein the connecting mechanism comprises complementary elements that are essentially complementary to one another and are insertable into one another in a first direction, which is transverse to the first surface, wherein the elements that are complementary to one another form a push-in connection, wherein the connecting member of the connecting mechanism includes features to enable a screw connection to the second construction element, wherein the second construction element is connectable to the connecting member by a screw and indirectly connectable to the first construction element by the strip-shaped member, and wherein the strip-shaped member has a web-shaped section connected to the connecting member at one side thereof and the thickened portion at an opposing side thereof to space the connecting member and the thickened portion from one another, the web-shaped section following the thickened portion on the side of the rear edge in order to provide a lateral guidance during the insertion of the strip-shaped member into a groove of a construction element, wherein the complementary elements include an element residing at the second construction element which receives and surrounds another element of the complementary elements in an assembled state, the another element residing at the strip-shaped member.